Our efforts for marine conservation

Conservation

The oceans cover 71% of our planet’s surface. They are important because they influence the atmosphere’s chemical and physical processes, regulating climate and the cycling of elements like carbon, oxygen and phosphorus, among others. They also provide us with food and have thus acquired an economic, social and cultural importance.

At present, the marine ecosystems (coral reefs, mangroves, coastal dunes and deep sea) are being altered and affected by different processes, caused mainly by the over-exploitation of resources and the impact generated by human activities.

At the Interactive Aquarium Cancún, we inform our visitors about marine conservation and four of the main threats to these ecosystems. You can learn more about them here and about the actions we can take to mitigate their effect.

OVERFISHING >

SAVE ENERGY TO SAVE OUR OCEANS >

INVASION OF EXOTIC SPECIES >

SOLID WASTE POLLUTION >

Environmental Education Program Delphinus >

What is overfishing?

Overfishing occurs when more fish are caught than the population can replace through natural reproduction. Among the consequences of overfishing are the extinction of species and the distortion of the food chain.

If this continues, our seas and oceans will soon be seriously threatened, not only in terms of their ecological relationships, but also as our resources for food.

PRESERVE MARINE SPECIES

The population of certain species such as cod, tuna and swordfish has decreased by 90%, mainly due to overfishing. This means that if we wish to continue enjoying the nutrients we get from fish and seafood, we must give these species time to restore their population. By alternating and respecting closed seasons, we will preserve the marine ecosystem and ensure the that the resources provided to us will last.

BUY LOCAL AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD

Aquaculture is the sustainable cultivation of fish, mollusks, crustaceans and aquatic plants. This practice helps increase the production of seafood for human consumption, restore threatened species and protect them from predators.

When you consume or buy fish and seafood, opt for local production; look for suppliers whose products come from aquaculture, who promote responsible fishing and protect species, the ecosystem and biodiversity.

CLIMATE CHANGE

It is the alteration in the composition of the global atmosphere, directly or indirectly attributed to human activity and which adds to the natural variability of climate.

WHAT HUMAN ACTIVITIES CAUSE THE INCREASE OF GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE?

The burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas, coal (main sources of carbon dioxide CO2 emissions) and deforestation for agriculture and urbanization coupled with the production of lime to make cement.

Did you know that to obtain electrical energy, non-renewable resources must be burnt because they emit greenhouse gases? That’s right, electrical energy is essential for everyday life but very few know about its impact on the environment.

While it is true that we must demand more sustainable alternatives such as wind and solar energy, it is also true that we must take joint responsibility for the negative impact on the environment. The adoption of simple measures such as using energy-saving bulbs and unplugging electronics that are not being used, helps reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.

INVASION OF EXOTIC SPECIES

Invasive species are those that are found outside of their natural location, able to compete with native organisms, alter the habitat, reduce biodiversity and even cause the extinction of native plant and animal species.

An example of an exotic invasive species is the lionfish, a native of the Indo Pacific region. Its presence on the Coast of the Mexican Caribbean was first reported in 2009. It is a poisonous fish, it reproduces easily and is so aggressive when looking for food that it can destroy up to 90% of a reef. The only predator that can help restore the balance is man, through its consumption.

SOLID WASTE POLLUTION

It refers to the direct or indirect introduction of materials (plastics, metals, papers, etc.) in coastal and marine environments, harming natural resources, the quality of the water, ecological interactions and even human health.

This problem occurs in all cities, at different scales, and is linked to the chain management of solid waste, including the processes of collection, minimization, recycling, transport and disposal.

Two consequences of solid waste pollution are ingestion and the death of animals that confuse these materials with food or get tangled up in the waste.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Practice the rule of the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle).

Choose reusable objects and use less disposables.

Do not throw trash on the street or on the beach.

Pick up the trash you find on the beach or on the street and place it in a suitable container.

Separate your residues in at least two categories (organic and inorganic).

Consume responsibly.

Join a cleaning crew and motivate others to join.

Environmental Education Program Delphinus

Thanks to all our visitors, we are able to invest 10% of our profits in social and environmental projects.

For a brilliant blue planet

1,581 volunteers for beach cleaning

7,507 participants in school visits

14 theses on Veterinary Academic Consulting

4,414 kg. of waste from beach cleanups

Beach Cleaning Program

Since 2013, Delphinus has been committed to cleaning the coast of Quintana Roo. Over the past 3 years, we have organized 12 beach cleanups, recollecting a total of 4,414 kg of waste, thanks to the participation of 1,581 volunteers. The beach cleanups are essentially educational and encourage the active participation of the local population in the conservation of the oceans through activities of environmental service.

Didactic Visits Program

Our alliance for the environmental education of Quintana Roo:

Delphinus

Xcaret y Xel-há

Flora, Fauna and Culture of Mexico

The Ministry of Education and Culture of Quintana Roo

Together we have established this alliance to benefit 7 thousand students and public school teachers throughout the school year.

Our Delphinus Environmental Education Program includes training in values and commitment to environmental protection by the internal community, their promotion in Quintana Roo’s elementary schools and among visitors or consumers who enjoy our facilities and dolphin interaction programs.

Our activities for the conservation of the environment:

Environment education classes in high school

Beach cleaning

Recycling of solid waste

For the welfare of our dolphins

Our marine mammals are the heart of our organization, which is why we have the responsibility to direct all our efforts towards their welfare. We have developed the Animal Welfare Program that complies with the specific necessities and characteristics of our dolphins, sea lions and the habitats in which they evolve.

This program starts with the elaboration of a healthy and balanced diet specific to each sea mammal, taking into account its calorie and nutritional intake and characteristics such as age, sex, stage of development and reproductive condition.

Our veterinary medicine model is based, first and foremost, on the prevention of illnesses. Every day, before opening the doors to visitors, our specialists in animal care follow a revision protocol to detect any physical or behavioral changes in our dolphins. We also carry out regular blood tests, analyses of stomach contents, mycoses and other infections in order to identify health changes at an early stage.